Free agent safety chatter around Chiefs doesn't line up with the depth chart

The safety position already seems rather, well, safe. But some on the outside of the Kansas City Chiefs believe that some help at the position could be in the cards.

The Chiefs have a nice trio of young players at the safety position, which is a vital total given how often the team is in three-safety looks. They also have more versatile depth in the secondary in case someone needs to switch roles. But the folks at Pro Football Network believe the Chiefs might find themselves interested in the free-agent safety market all the same.

PFN recently made a list of the best remaining free agents with predictions as to where each might end up. Veteran safeties Julian Blackmon and Justin Simmons were both mentioned in conjunction with the Chiefs.

We're not buying the latest predictions for free-agent safeties around the NFL.

It's important to note that Blackmon has already found a home for the 2025 season after PFN made its list. The former third-round choice of the Indianapolis Colts was a five-year starter in Indy before signing with the New Orleans Saints this week.

As for Simmons, he's the more familiar face for the Chiefs given his tenure with the Denver Broncos as an AFC West rival. He's also been a beast against Patrick Mahomes in his career, perhaps the one player who has given him the most fits.

The two could not be any more dissimilar. One is younger with a middling body of work, while at least proving reliable. The other is a decorated vet on the tail end of his career who made the Pro Bowl just two seasons ago. But it's also weird because the position doesn't feel like a need for the Chiefs.

The Chiefs already have Bryan Cook entrenched as a starter with Jaden Hicks ready to ascend into a bigger role as well. Chamarri Conner is a versatile piece who profiles as a third safety. Beyond them, the Chiefs have a pair of proven vets already familiar with the system in Mike Edwards, who returned in 2025 after a season away, and Deon Bush, who profiles as a special teams ace.

Both Bush and Edwards feel like proper fits for that fourth safety role versus the Chiefs importing a player who is going to be searching for a starting role. Cook has an injury history, so that could be the line of thinking here, but he's also coming into a contract year and is plenty motivated for the season ahead.

Overall, safety is a spot where the Chiefs are looking to stay cheap yet effective given their financial commitments to the overall roster. It's hard to picture Simmons wanting to take a lesser role and money at this stage, unless that's forced upon him.